Session 2: Facilitating Life Garage Peer Support Groups

When a group of people come together they start to develop a group personality. You have probably noticed that when we spend time with people on a consistent basis, we start to behave and speak in a way which we have learned is appropriate to spending time with that person. Groups such as Life Garage groups, also take on this dynamic of group behaviour. In the first part of this session we will be considering how you can shape the development of these group dynamics through setting group boundaries.

Boundaries are the expectations and limits we set in our relationships with others (see the session in The Life Garage). As an Assistant Life Mechanic, whether working with individuals or groups using The Life Garage resources, you will need to agree and set boundaries, expectations around behaviours, for the work.

These boundaries may take the form of a written contract which may be handed out, highlighted as being online, or signed by both parties. They may take the form of a less formal form of being developed and agreed in conversation. These boundaries may cover a wide range of content dependent on the context you might be working in, but will usually include agreements over issues such as:

• Self-disclosure

• Confidentiality

• Appropriate language / topics for discussion

• Time keeping and session location

• Respect for participants / tutors

• Expectations around contact out of sessions

Sometimes boundaries like these might be set as a written agreement which you ask the participant to agree to. However, sometimes, agreements like this are developed with the other person the first time of meeting.

However they are developed, and whatever their content, the important feature of these agreements over boundaries is that all people involved feel secure in knowing what is expected of them, and what they can expect of others.